Set up a separate email address for shopping and newsgroups. If you need to, you can then change this address without disrupting online business activities.

Only share your primary email address with people you know.

Be careful when signing up to mailing lists – spammers use the unsubscribe button to validate addresses.

Only make online purchases from companies that have a clear privacy policy and secure payment pages.

Think before you fill out online forms. Ask yourself: how much information do I need to enter into this site?

Keep a record of what information you have given to whom.

Be careful how much personal information you post or reveal online.

Users who share addresses, telephone numbers, birthdays, and other personal information put themselves at a greater risk of identity theft, stalking and harassment. This includes information you post on social media.

If you use social networking sites, adjust your privacy settings to control the amount and type of information you want to share, so that people you don't know very well can only see certain parts of your profile.

Think about what information you may have online that is spread across multiple sites. Identity thieves can piece together your identity from public information piece by piece like putting together a puzzle.